"You have to have total commitment," Nieber said Monday, showing a photo album of her and her husband Rick beginning to restore their 1780s home 30 years ago. "We're still working on it."

Nieber said she's watched with interest the protests going on over Southborough's historic Joseph Burnett House.

Although the owner, Jon Delli Priscoli, recently announced he wouldn't sell the building to a developer who planned to demolish it, the propery isn't saved. Delli Priscoli still aims to sell it, though he's said he hopes to work with the town to preserve it.

Nieber said if Delli Priscoli's offer is sincere, creating a single-home "Local Historical District" could be the best way to ensure the building remains standing.

"There was no money involved," Nieber said of her recent effort to secure such a district for her own historic home. "Just my time."

The Niebers own the Peter Whitney Parsonage on Whitney Street. Its namesake, Rev. Peter Whitney, was the town's second minister, and rubbed elbows with founding fathers John Hancock and John Adams.

"This is where the fire started in 1780," Nieber said, pointing to the original fireplace in the kitchen, one of seven in the home.

Originally built around 1690 and rebuilt following the 1780 fire, the home is filled with antiques Whitney and his wife Julia would have used. The floors, woodwork, walls, door hardware and ceilings are original, while the Niebers used old photographs and plans to restore the rest as best they could.

The couple says they've put about $250,000 into restoring the home in the past three decades, but plan to sell it sometime soon. Worried about seeing their handiwork go to waste, they were able to create a "Local Historical District" for the home with the help of Historical Commission Chairman Brian Smith.

The district restricts future owners from making changes to the home that would affect the way it looks from the street. Though not as restrictive as a preservation restriction – which protects the inside of the house, too – creating a district is free, while recording a restriction can cost upwards of $20,000.

"It's a win-win," Nieber said, since the home is saved from demolition but future owners can still make some changes – a boon to property value.

Nieber said creating the district took a town commission, a Town Meeting vote and a lot of paperwork. But if Delli Priscoli was open to the idea, she said it might protect demolition of the home while at the same time making it less difficult to sell.

A representative for Delli Priscoli couldn't be reached Monday.

Brad Petrishen can be reached at 508-490-7463 or bpetrishen@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @BPetrishen_MWDN.